December 23, 2012

Carlisle marvels at what Duncan has accomplished

SAN ANTONIO -- Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said what San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan has been able to accomplish this season has been absolutely remarkable.

Duncan is averaging 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game. Not bad for someone who'll turn 37 years old in April.

"He's a good example on how you can’t ever underestimate greatness at any age,'' Carlisle said after Sunday's shoot around at the AT&T Center. "Obviously he takes tremendous care of himself and lovesand respects the game.

"When you have those things going for you, when you have the ability that he has, you do can it for a long time.''

This is the most minutes Duncan has played since he averaged 31.3 minutes during the 2009-'10 season. He's also second on the Spurs in minutes played this season behind point guard Tony Parker, who is averaging 32.7 minutes per contest.

"What I see is that he's playing more minutes,'' Carlisle said. "I don’t know what his minutes are, but they’ve got to be up.''

Duncan has played in 27 of the Spurs' 28 games and has registered 15 double-doubles. In a way, he looks like the old Tim Duncan who used to consistently terrorize opponents.

"They’re going to him in the post more and he's getting it done,'' said Carlisle, whose team play the Spurs at 6 tonight. "I know in the past they’ve been pretty vigilant about keeping his minutes down and stuff.

"They wouldn’t be playing him more minutes if he wasn't feeling great and wanting to be out there playing great. So I think it’s a function of those things, too.’’